Improvements to Cape York air services

Isolated communities on Cape York Peninsula will benefit from special new aviation rules just released by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

The new rules will increase aviation safety in the Cape York region while allowing air operators to carry fare paying passengers to isolated locations.

Communities on isolated islands in the Torres Strait will also benefit from the new regulations.

CASA's Director of Aviation Safety, Mick Toller, today dismissed claims that Cape York communities were being left out of the new arrangements.

Mr Toller says the new rules apply equally to the Cape York region and the Torres Strait.

"CASA has identified a number of aerodromes on Torres Strait islands that will be covered by the new rules," Mr Toller says.

"We are now working with air operators who fly to Cape York to identify the aerodromes in that region that should be covered by these new arrangements.

"Isolated Cape York communities are being given the same access to these new arrangements and there will be no delay in approving these safer passenger operations.

"I must stress that it is now up to the air operators servicing Cape York and the Torres Strait to approach CASA and request coverage under the new regulations.

"We will work with air operators who want to upgrade their services to develop plans to lift their operational and maintenance safety standards as quickly as possible.

10 March 1999

Media contact
Peter Gibson
ph 02 6217 1015
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Ref: ME9907PR